Mayoral winner opts out of the job

Genits keeps Lansford council seat. Applicants sought to lead borough.

January 10, 2006|By Ashley Kosciolek Special to The Morning Call - Freelance

Lansford needs a mayor after the man whom voters chose for that seat in November decided this week to remain in the Borough Council seat to which he also was elected.

Joseph Genits, who was Lansford's mayor from 1982 to 1986, said his original intention was not to run for mayor.

"Initially, my petition to run for election was for council," Genits said.

The Democrat said he asked residents to write his name in for a council position on the Republican ticket when only two Republican candidates were listed for three available council spots in the primary.

But voters, who made Genits a council candidate on both tickets for the general election in November, also wrote him in as a candidate for mayor.

Because state law does not permit a person to hold both jobs, Genits was given his choice and forfeited the mayor's slot.

Letters of interest for the position will be accepted until Friday. Applicants must be registered voters and have lived in Lansford at least a year.

Genits said council will announce the applicants Jan. 17 and vote. Interviews may be conducted.

"By law, any vacancy for a borough-elected official has to be filled within 30 days by council," he said. If it isn't, the matter would go to the borough Vacancy Board, then to Carbon County Court.

Genits said until a new mayor is chosen, council President Dwight Penberth will serve as mayor.

Genits, who was elected council vice president Tuesday, also decided -- along with Councilman Richard Giantesano -- to not accept the $75 weekly council salary.

"The town's in debt," Genits said. "Until the municipality can get out of debt, it's a personal preference."

Also a borough code enforcement officer, Genits said he wants to "clean [Lansford] of all dilapidated structures and run-down properties and maintain control of all property maintenance."

He also mentioned a shared services agreement with Nesquehoning, Summit Hill and Coaldale; street repairs; snow removal; grass cutting; and the maintenance of sewers and borough equipment as some of council's most pressing issues.